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Central Pollution Control Board

HIGHLIGHTS 2000
WATER QUALITY
Water quality management demands the information with respec t to the nature and extent of existing water quality. The Central Pollution Control Board has been monitoring quality of water bodies in c ollaboration with concerned State Pollution Control Boards at 507 locations. Out of 507 locations, 414 monitoring locations are on the rivers, 38 locations on lakes, 25 groundwater locations while 30 stations are situated on other water bodies like canals, creeks and drains. So far, 430 locations are covered under the Monitoring of Indian National Aquatic Resources (MINARS) programme, 50 stations under the Global Environmental Monitoring Systems (GEMS) programme and 27 locations are under the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) programme. The monitoring at 371 loc ations is done at monthly interval while the monitoring frequency at 136 stations is quarterly. The collected water samples are analysed for 22 physico-chemical parameters. The monitoring data of surface water resources reveal that the major rivers of the country have retained pristine quality of water in their upper stretches. As the rivers enter the plains, they start getting exploited for irrigation and drinking and used as recipient of industrial and domestic wastewater. This has rendered the rivers polluted. The presence of organics and bacterial contamination are the critical pollution factors in these water bodies. The situation is mainly responsible for water borne diseases.

On the basis of water quality monitoring data, the Central Pollution Control Board has identified surface water in terms of riverine length having different levels of pollution. The water quality in rivers with respec t to BOD have been observed as follows: Sl. No. Water Quality Status Riverine length (Kms) Percentage Riverine length 14 19 67

1. 2. 3.

Severely polluted Moderately polluted Relatively clean

6,086 8,691 30,242

Review of Water Quality Monitoring Programme The present water quality monitoring network, although quite extensive is not adequate to cover all the variations in the quality. Moreover, the nature and extent of pollution has been changing with the rapid urbanisation and industrialisation. Thus, the need to review, rationalise and optimise the monitoring network has been realized. Accordingly, the review exercise has been undertaken for: Optimization of monitoring programme; and Development of guidelines for water quality monitoring. As an outcome of the review exercise, the Central Pollution Control Board has come to the conclusion that the existing water quality network is to be strengthened in respect of c overage of larger area as well as inclusion of more parameters espec ially micropollutants, wherever required. It was also c oncluded that the water bodies having stable water quality need to be monitored with lesser frequenc ies. The resources and effort thus, saved can be utilised for augmenting the monitoring network. Water Quality Status of Chennai Water Ways

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The waterways in the cities c onstitute an important environmental component for assimilation of wastewater, recharge of groundwater aquifers and also for maintaining the aesthetic quality. Chennai City is traversed by four major waterways namely River Cooum, River Adyar, Buckingham Canal and Otteri Nullah. The Water channels/drains such as Mambalam drain, Captain Cotton Canal, Nandanam drain, Arumbakkam drain, Irugambakkam drain and Kodungaiyur drain also traverses the city. In the earlier days, the Buc kingham Canal served as a useful mode for inter-state transport.

A project for environmental improvement of waterways in Chennai, which is first of its kind, was launched to rejuvenate the important waterc ourses in the city, which will have significant impacts on the well being of the city and its populace. It is a collaborative initiative of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board along with Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board and the Central Pollution Control Board supported by the National River Conservation Directorate, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India. The waterways of Chennai are not perennial and these rec eive flood discharge only during monsoon season. During other months, these are used as carriers of wastewater. Thus, the waterways function as elongated lagoons for wide range of domestic, commercial and industrial wastes/effluents. The uncollected sewage from unorganised sector, sewage from treatment plants, effluent discharged from commercial establishments and wastewater from drainage system finally reach the waterways of Chennai City. Several outfalls from industries, commercial institutions, treated/partially treated sewage from STPs, discharge from pumping stations and drains from the slums, discharge wastewater into respective waterways in their basin. This wastewater discharge contributes contaminated/polluted water to the waterways and produc es insanitary condition. The identified outfalls in various waterways are as follows: Source-wise details of Wastewater Outfalls in Chennai City waterways Sl.No. Outfalls source River Adyar Number of outfalls in waterways River Cooum Buckingham Canal 1994 14 21 1999 13 21 Otteri Nullah 1994 13 3 1999 4 3

1994 1. 2. Industries Commercial Institutions Sewage Plant Treatment 20 38

1999 11 38

1994 18 18

1999 1 11

3.

--

4. 5.

Pumping Stations Sewer/Storm Drain Slums Total water

4 148

1 147

2 281

-276

9 63

4 64

2 43

1 43

6.

17 228

17 215

24 344

24 313

20 128

19 123

5 66

5 57

The number of outfalls discharging effluents into city waterways has been reduced to 708 during 1999, as compared to 766 in the year 1994. As per survey conduc ted in Marc h 1994, the total number of industrial

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outfalls was 65, whic h has been subsequently reduced to 29 outfalls into various waterways of the city. These outfalls contribute total flow of 12330.30 KLD to the waterways. The Sewage Treatment Plants provided by the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board takes care of only one third of the total sewage generation, besides the fact that the STPs have been designed during 1970s and does not cover the extensive growth of the city thereafter. Bio-monitoring of Aquatic Resources Bio-monitoring of water bodies has been undertaken in the problem areas of Singrauli, Vapi, Ankleshawar, Pali, Jodhpur, Angul-Talcher and Najafgarh Drain basin in Delhi to assess the water quality. In addition, bio-monitoring of national aquatic systems was initiated in 13 States with association of respective State Pollution Control Boards. Monitoring of biological parameters were also conducted at three lakes, Ulsoor, Sankey and Yelemallappa; one reservoir, Thippagondanahalli (T.G.Halli), which is a drinking water source; and two minor rivers, Arkavathi and Kumudavathi in Bangalore.

Monitoring of Haldi and Roopnarayan Rivers in West Bengal Studies on the rivers Haldi and Roopnarayan in West Bengal were conducted to identify the status of water quality. A comprehensive report on the status of water quality has been prepared. The water quality data are summarised below: Water Quality of Haldi River Parameters Haldi Mouth Upstream Township 7.9-8.05 7668-18730 2745-6100 981-1836 7.2-8.1 1.3-1.4 24000-60000 Matingini Setu Moina

pH TDS (mg/l) Chloride (mg/l) Total Hardness (mg/l) DO (mg/l) BOD (mg/l) Total Coliforms (Nos./100 ml) Faecal Coliforms (Nos./100 ml)

7.96-8.08 6724-18096 2755-8700 913-2884 6.9-7.8 1-2 32400-127200

7.7-8.01 5446-12504 2639-6000 446-2076 6.3-7.9 1-2.1 14000-33200

7.91-8.10 858-11966 245-5500 125-1817 6.8-7.6 1-2.0 3300-73600

32400-127200

24000-60000

14000-33200

3300-73600

Water Quality of Roopnarayan River Parameters pH Mouth 7.40-7.95 Tamluk 7.10-8.05 KTPS 7.40-8.02 Kolaghat 7.40-7.79 Ghatal 7.03-7.42

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TDS (mg/l) Chlorides (mg/l) Total Hardness (mg/l) DO (mg/l) BOD (mg/l) Total Colifirms (Nos./100 ml) FC ml) (CFU/100 335-610 83-225 146-201 283-1210 67-502 127-326

Central Pollution Control Board

195-1178 51-492 107-317 186-1088 40-454 95-288 134-242 28-36 67-87

5.7-6.8 1.0-2.0 4600-27400

5.7-6.9 1-1.4 4200-208000

5.9-7.1 1-1.7 7600-60800

5.7-7.0 1.3-2.0 8800-22200

5.9-7.6 1-1.7 6800-109200

1600-24000

1800-76800

4000-30400

5600-10200

4900-6800

Non-point Sources of Pollution The Central Pollution Control Board has been regularly assessing point sources of pollution. However, similar assessment needs to be undertaken for non-point sources, as their magnitude is quite significant. Due to the fast growth of urban population and inadequate arrangements for collection and disposal of liquid and solid waste generated, large application of c hemic als in agriculture, fast industrialization results in indiscriminate disposal of wastes. All these activities contribute the non-point pollution into both surface run-off and groundwater. CPCB in collaboration with Punjab Pollution Control Board has taken up a pilot study to assess nonpoint sources of pollution in Ludhiana city. It was revealed that indiscriminate disposal of waste is the major source of non-point source of pollution. Increased application of agro-c hemicals, both fertilizers and pesticides, are also important non-point sources of pollution. Increased irrigation also results in gradual building up of salts in the agriculture, which increase the salinity in groundwater and ultimately surface water. There is an urgent need to frame a policy on prevention and control of non-point sources of pollution. Revised Water Quality Criteria The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act envisaged restoration and maintenanc e of "wholesomeness" of aquatic resources. The Central Pollution Control Board had earlier defined the "wholesomeness" of water in terms of selected water quality criteria parameters to protect different human uses of water. Over the years, there has been increase in diversity of pollution problems posing technical difficulties in implementing these criteria. To review the water quality criteria, CPCB set up an Expert Group. Based on deliberations of and interactions with the State Pollution Control Board, the following decisions have been taken: A set of water quality criteria developed as basic water quality criteria applicable to all water bodies in the country. Existing use based water quality c riteria are retained but elaborated to include more parameters. A separate set of water quality criteria designed for groundwater in the country. For involving larger groups of people in water quality monitoring, a set of simple parameters have been identified Scientific rationale is incorporated to avoid difficulties in implementation. Responsibilities of concerned agencies have been identified for water quality management. Pollution Assessment - River Kosi A study was undertaken with the objective to assess the extent of pollution and monitoring of the river, starting from the origin till its confluenc e with River Ramganga to know the sourc es responsible for the same. The river originates from village Budha Peenath, Kausani of Distt. Almora (U.P.) and up to Ramnagar , Distt. Nainital. The river is not subjected to any significant source of pollution and the quality of river water meets the criteria designated for `A` class use. At Ramnanagar the major portion of city sewage is discharged into the river, the quality afterwards deteriorates slightly. After Ramnagar, the river flows through the outskirts of the city Kashipur and the river becomes highly polluted due to huge and contaminated discharge from several highly polluting industries including Paper Mills, Sugar and Distillery. The river water becomes dark coloured. Here the quality of river water matc hes with the criteria for `D` class use of water. Afterwards the river is not subjected to any significant source of pollution. The total length of the river is around 250 kms. The water quality profile of the river water may be categorised as follows-Origin to u/s of Ramnagar - `A` Class -D/s of Ramnagar to u/s of Kashipur - `B` Class -D/s of Kashipur till confluence - `D` Class

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with River Ramganga

Central Pollution Control Board

(A class - drinking water source without conventional treatment but after disinfection, B class - outdoor bathing organised, C class - drinking water source with conventional treatment followed by disinfection, D class propagation of wildlife, fisheries and E class - irrigation, industrial cooling, controlled waste disposal) There is a need to treat the industrial effluents upto desired level by the concerned industries and also the treatment / diversion of sewage at Ramnagar. The release of discharges from the barrages at Ramnagar and Lalpur are to be maintained as per norms. Important activities in water quality monitoring and pollution control Revised guidelines for water quality criteria/standards formulated Report on "Brahmaputra basin" prepared and printed Report on "Assessment of Environmental Quality of River in Eastern Region" prepared Regular AQC exercises c arried out for 20 parameters covering 101 laboratories, whic h include laboratories participating in water quality monitoring programme of CPCB and EPA recognised labs A study on development of PCB analysis methodology for water and sediments initiated Water Quality monitoring of river Yamuna at 15 locations from Hathnikund to Chambal river confluence and monitoring of 12 major drains joining Yamuna was continued. The samples are analysed for physic ochemical parameters, pesticides and heavy metals Performance study of four sewage treatment plants - Sen Nursing Home, Delhi; Faridabad; Ballabhgarh and Gurgaon was conducted Performance of STPs Under GAP-I and their Impact on River Water Quality Intensive performance monitoring of all the STPs commissioned under Ganga Ac tion Plan Phase-I in the state of Uttar Pradesh and their overall impact on water quality of the river(s) is being carried out at frequency of at least once in three months. In all 12 STPs namely Haridwar (18 MLD), Rishikesh/Lakkerghat (6 MLD), Swargasram (0.32 MLD), Fatehgarh (2.7 MLD), Kanpur (5 MLD, 36 MLD & 130 MLD), Varanasi (BHU-8 MLD, DLW -12 MLD and Dinapur- 80 MLD), Mirzapur (14 MLD) & Allahabad (60 MLD) and the quality of River Ganga before and after confluence of the sewage were monitored.

The salient findings are as follows: High coliform content observed in untreated and treated wastewater Due to interrupted power supply/regular load shedding and lac k of DG sets, untreated wastewater from pumping stations directly disc harged to the river. Water quality of river does not conform to C category of Designated Best Use classification Impact Assessment of Immersion of Ganesha Idols in Bangalore As a part of final ritual of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, the clay idols of Ganesha, along with flowers, banana leaves, coconuts etc. are immersed in various water bodies, resulting in alarming inc rease in pollution levels in the water bodies. In Bangalore, the idols are immersed in lakes, subsequently endangering the aquatic flora & fauna. It was observed that a total of 3051 idols in Sankey Tank, 3890 in Ulsoor Lake, 642 in Lalbagh Lake and 962 idols in Yediyur Lake were immersed. The analytic al results of the water samples indicate that pH varied between 7.3 to 7.6 in the lakes. There was a substantial increase in total dissolved solids and during the immersion the iron content increased manifold in all the lakes. Trac es of copper, chromium and zinc were also found in water samples after the immersion.

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